'Great Bear' joins Iowa Event

The Fifth Annual Hike-N-Seek is just about a month away and now geocachers have one more incentive to grab their GPSr's and head to Iowa. GreatBearOutdoors.com, a niche online retailer specializing in camping tents, sleeping bags and other outdoor gear announces their recent support for the HIKE-N-SEEK 2008 event.

From September 26 to September 28  Hike-N-Seek 2008 will be held at Swan Lake State Park. This year's event coordinator (The NVG) plans on having nearly 100 permanent caches for the weekend long event. The geocaching competition this year will commence at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and run through 10:00 a.m. Sunday with both individual and team categories (but you may only compete in one or the other). Both competitions will cover the same caches and be run simultaneously. 

The caches are hidden county wide and there will be plenty of hiking. It's a 24-hour competition, so night caching is allowed. Camping will be available at Swan Lake and there are many hotels and motels in Carroll, IA.

The President of the Iowa Geocachers Organization noted the strong growth for the event, ""'Hike-N-Seek' is quickly becoming the flagship event for the Iowa Geocachers Organization and thanks to this year's Hike-n-Seek coordinator - The NVG - the event is heading very strongly into its fifth straight year and with nearly 100 permanent geocaches being hidden, it's going to be huge! The NVG has also incorporated night caching in the event with a 24 hour competition, so night caching is not only expected, but may be necessary!"

When asked why Great Bear Outdoors decided to be an event sponsor Managing Partner Geoffrey F. Moore had this to say, "Geocaching is a great way for families and others to enjoy the outdoors. We're just happy the Iowa Geocachers would let us participate."

In 2007 the event attracted over 120 attendees. With the gaining popularity of Geocaching the event is sure to attract even more participants.